Operation HERRICK

It is with deep sadness that 904 EAW was part of the repatriation of Warrant Officer 2nd Class Michael Williams of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment (2 PARA) and Private Joe Whittaker from 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment in Afghanistan on Tuesday 24th June 2008. WO2 Michael Williams was killed during a firefight on deliberate operations against the Taliban in the Upper Sangin Valley.

Private Joe Whittaker, a reserve soldier, who was attached to 2 PARA was killed by a suspected improvised explosive device. Members of 904 EAW contributed to a memorial service and ramp ceremony with customary dignity.

This has been an extremely busy week for 904 EAW. Air Assets have been brought together to support both Afghan and Coalition troops on the ground.

The Reaper has provided essential ‘eyes in the sky’ with its exceptional tactical reconnaissance capability providing the necessary picture for the Harrier Force, and a host of others, to conduct their tasks with as much safety as possible.

There were numerous incidents of Troops in Contact, where the Harrier Force was alerted at short notice, in order to support ground operations. Controlling this complex Air picture, was 1 Air Control Centre, who continued to provide vital communication links between the aircraft and the ground to co-ordinate the airspace, having battled through some serviceability challenges in the process – it’s never easy out here…

 The Hercules C-130 Force has been its usual remarkable enabler, so essential in counter-insurgency situations. Moving people and freight, dropping stores to those in need, often with no notice, perhaps even diverted from one expected mission onto another – that is the sort of flexibility which not only makes the job of the Service personnel fascinating (and exhausting at times!) but it also gives us that asymmetric edge over an adversary who has no Air.

To ensure the continued protection of Kandahar airfield, its personnel and aircraft, 3 Sqn RAF Regiment have been maintaining patrols and a Quick Reaction Force, dealing with suspected improvised explosive devices, and masterminding our response to those who might wish to threaten the base in some other way.

Operation TELIC

It has been another busy week for the Tornado GR4, with 35 missions launched over Iraq  providing Close Air Support and Tactical Reconnaissance. Members of 901 EAW have risen to the challenge of preparing the aircraft for flight despite challenging scenarios. Numerous Joint Tactical Air Requests supporting Iraqi and coalition troops on the ground have been responded to by the Tornado GR4 with success.

901 EAW Support Engineering and Air Movements personnel have been working around the clock to prepare Hercules C-130 aircraft to move personnel and freight in and out of Iraq.

In the intense heat of the Middle East, numerous pallets have been prepared and loaded by the Air Movements Team, with their equipment being diligently maintained by personnel of Support Engineering Flight.

 In the vicinity of Basra, members of 903 EAW RAF Regiment Force Protection Wing have been ‘walking the ground’, the ground of a sovereign and proud Iraq, to speak with Iraqi locals and tribal leaders to continue that process of increasing security. 903 EAW also provided Force Protection for an Independent High Election Committee mission rehearsal for the transfer of voter material.

Summary

Another ‘extraordinary week’, a phrase we use in trepidation in case one is accused of ‘over-stating the case’. But every single Capability the RAF has got deployed has been pushed to the limits. Some of the stories we cannot tell, in an open source like this for fear of helping our adversaries rather than ourselves. But they will be told one day, and there will be some from this week that epitomise the outstanding results we can achieve when Air, Land and local people get together against their common foe.

Photographs: MOD.

Image one: RAF Regiment on patrol in Afghanistan.

Image two: C-130J Hercules on crew-in.

Image three: Tornado GR4 over Iraq.

Image four: Movements staff load a C-130J Hercules.